[Dstar] Re: D-Star and emergencies

[Tony Langdon]

At 12:43 AM 9/12/2008, you wrote:
>Hello friends,
>
>Observations:
>
>Coverage - FM v Dstar - Dstar is equal or better. - Fixed station to 
>fixed station very good - mobile flutter and fades are less 
>forgiving with dstar (in my opinion).

Same as my observations.

>Noisy room - use headsets.

Yep, and there are noise cancelling mic options.  I also suspect 
sometime in the not too distant future, we'll see DSP based noise 
cancelling mics based on new chips designed for the mobile phone market.

>ne BIG difference between IRLP / Echolink / Dstar Gateways - IRLP 
>and Echolink take recovered audio from FM receivers and digitizes 
>this in a computer and sends it thru the internet, then recovers the 
>data back into audio and re-transmits.  When DSTAR leaves the users 
>transmitter it remains digital and unaltered until it reaches the 
>receiving user's radio.  Digital all the way - no demod / remod.

I find D-STAR audio quality and levels are very consistent, which 
generally helps with readability.  D-STAR doesn't sound as natural as 
FM, but we are trying to stuff voice down a very narrow bandwidth, 
and leave some space for data.  I certainly find the voice quality 
more than adequate for D-STAR's intended purpose and user base.

>DSTAR replace FM - not in the near future, but dstar does bring 
>something different to the ball park.  Also I plan to keep my HF 
>radio even though FM is much nicer to listen to.  Also I keep some 
>dusty paddles that I can use for CW if things get really bad (I am 
>not a CW op by preference but applaud folks with that talent).

Agree on all counts.  For me, it's a new mode with lots of potential.

73 de VK3JED
http://vkradio.com